Culture, Heritage with Gaelic Studies BA (Hons)
Course code V90G
What is special about this course?
The BA (Hons) Culture and Heritage with Gaelic Studies will appeal to anyone with a broad interest in the Highlands and Islands region and Scotland in general. On this course, you will have the opportunity to learn the Gaelic language from native speakers or enhance any language skills you may already have, and can choose to study in English or Gaelic in a number of modules. You willl also have the choice of writing your end of year projects in English or Gaelic in your third and fourth years.
You will study a wide range of subjects, allowing you to explore the key cultural, historical, literary, language, musical and philosophical issues of the region at both national and regional levels, as well as placing them within a global context. The programme covers everything from art, film and literature, to museums, Vikings and plants.
The programme is aimed at anyone who wishes to study in the distinctive fields of culture, heritage and Gaelic language studies. You can set your own research agendas, choosing your own topics for study at all levels and bringing together the multi-disciplinary teaching and learning you will experience throughout your studies.
Please see our FAQ sheet for further information on this course.
Special features
- Gain and enhance your Gaelic language skills
- Study Highlands and Islands culture and heritage in a global context
- Choose from a range of interdisciplinary subjects to suit your own interests and career path
- Study to suit your personal circumstances, full-time or part-time
- Individual modules can be studied for personal or professional development
Entry requirements
Entry to year one:
- 3 Scottish Highers at grade BBC or above OR
- 2 A levels at grade BC or above
- At least two should be from the list of relevant academic subjects
- Applicants with other relevant qualifications or experience will be considered on an individual basis
Advanced entry to year two:
- HNC Social Sciences (12 SQA credits) with 3 additional SQA credits at level 7, which is equivalent to 120 degree credit points, and at least grade C in the Graded Unit will be considered for direct entry to year two
Access routes
SWAP Access courses
If you are eligible to undertake Scottish Wider Access Programmes (SWAP), please visit our SWAP access list for further information on grade profiles and available subjects.
Year 1 - CertHE
Culture and Heritage
You will study three of the following modules:
- Scotland: the brand (S1)
- What is culture? (S1)
- Culture. Heritage. What? (S2)
- Scotland's music (S2)
Gaelic
You will study two of the following modules:
- Gaelic for learners 1A
- The Gaelic world 1
- Gaelic story and song
- Gaelic for learners 1B
- Introduction to Gaelic prose
You will also choose one option module from across the university's humanities subjects.
Year 2 - DipHE
You will study the following modules.
Culture and Heritage
You will choose three modules, which may include:
- Tradition, custom and belief (S1)
- Folklore (S1)
- Golden mead and burning hearts (S2)
- Languages on the edge (S2)
- Displaying the past: museum studies (S2)
Gaelic Studies
You will choose two from the following:
- Gaelic for learners 2A
- Introduction to Gaelic poetry
- The Gaelic world 2
- Gaelic for learners 2B
- Folklore
Plus one option module from across the humanities subjects.
Year 3 - BA
You will study one core module:
- Interdisciplinary project (S1)
Culture and Heritage
Plus two options, which may include:
- Perceptions of heritage (S2)
- Celtic and Celtic Revival art 600-2000
- Scotland in film (S2)
- The Scottish Enlightenment and Highland society (S2)
Gaelic Studies
You will choose two modules from:
- Traditional Gaelic culture
- Gaoir nam ban: Gaelic women's poetry 1644 – 1746
- Language policy and planning 1
- Nationalism and national identity
Year 4 - BA (Hons)
You will complete a dissertation, plus four option modules.
Culture and Heritage
You will choose two modules, which may include:
- Scottish tradition in philosophy (S1)
- Faeries and fables: the story of Gaelic literature (S1)
- Highland journeys (S2)
- Vikings and Valkyries (S2)
Gaelic Studies
You will choose two modules from:
- Traditional Gaelic culture in the 21st Century
- Language policy and planning 2
- Iarshader to Iraq
- Language policy in the workplace
- Poileasaidh is planadh canain 2 (Language policy & planning 2)
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- Part-time (structured)
- Part-time (unstructured)
- You will learn through a combination of scheduled video conference lectures and tutorials, and online study via the university’s virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors. There is normally a weekly two-hour timetabled video conference lecture for each module.
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 4 years
- Part-time (structured): 8 years
Where can I study my course?
- Argyll
- HTC
- Inverness
- Moray
- North, West and Hebrides
- Orkney
- Shetland
- This fully online course can be studied from anywhere in the world
- Students based near to one of the listed campuses should apply to, and be enrolled and supported by, their local campus
- All other students should apply to, and will be enrolled and supported by, UHI Orkney
Start date
- September
Fees
For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes
- EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
- EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
- EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (120 credit modules) per year | £1,820 | £1,820 |
| Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year | £915 | £915 |
| Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module) | £305 | £305 |
Rest of the UK students
For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status the following fees apply:
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time online per year (120 credit modules) | £6,120 | £6,420 |
| Part-time online (per 20 credit module) | £1,020 | £1,070 |
International students
For students who do not normally reside in the UK studying online from their home country, or living in the UK but assessed as international for fee status, the following fees apply:
This includes EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled status in the UK and EEA and Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time online per year (120 credit modules) | £6,960 | £7,080 |
| Part-time online (per 20 credit module) | £1,160 | £1,180 |
A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.
Funding
UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.
Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you have successfully completed this degree, you might like to consider careers in:
- Primary and secondary teaching in Gaelic or English, history and modern studies
- Interpretation with a range of wildlife or heritage groups, including Historic Environment Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, NatureScot, and Scottish Forestry
- Heritage and tourism sectors
- Museums, archives and libraries sector
- Government agencies and local authorities
- Research and academia
- Community development
- Policy development
- Marketing and PR
- Journalism and the media
Can I progress into further study?
You can progress from the BA (Hons) Culture and Heritage with Gaelic Studies to the following postgraduate courses:
- MSc Material Culture and Gàidhealtachd History
- MLitt Highlands and Islands Literature
- MLitt History of the Highlands and Islands
- MLitt Island Studies
- MLitt Scottish Heritage
- MLitt Viking Studies
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
I’m passionate about culture and heritage and this course was the only one that fit my own interests. Being able to also have an element of Gaelic culture and heritage in my course was fantastic. I can’t speak highly enough of the staff who have supported me through my journey at UHI. From the very first day there has been help available. The relationship between the teaching staff and the student is so important and that’s one of the reasons I’m considering further study at UHI. The Culture and Heritage team have been utterly fantastic.
That flexibility also means that fellow students are based all over Scotland but that has not been a barrier to forming friendships and supportive study groups, in fact, fellow students are also one of my favourite things – there has been a mix of students, all different ages, nationalities and backgrounds and that has really added to the experience for me.
Margaret is studying the BA (Hons) Culture and Heritage with Gaelic Studies at UHI Inverness.
Apply for Culture, Heritage with Gaelic Studies BA (Hons)
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.